Machine for affixing covering material to forms.



L. B. BROWN.

0R APFIXING COVERING MATERIAL T0 FORMS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 2, 1914.

MACHINE F 1,1 17,162. Patented Nov. 17, 1914.

4 SHEETSSHEBT 1.

Fig. 1

5 60 5| 57 I T O 52 X -zaa il IQML? 56 a lrf-lil L. E. BROWN. MACHINE FOR AFFIXING COVERING MATERIAL T0 FORMS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 2. 1914.

Patented Nov. 17, 1914.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

W AIIy's.

Inventor. s E. Brown Lo US y W'l fnesses.

Qv MihL L. E. BROWN. MACHINE FOR AFFIXING covfimrm MATERIAL T0 roams. APPLICATION FILED JAN.2, 1914 1 1 17, 1 62, Patented Nov. 17, 1914.

4 SHHET8-SHBET 3.

WiTnesses. IEVBBI'ITOT.

}. Louis rown,

' YMMIM Attys.

L. E. BROWN. MACHINE FOR AFFIXING 0072mm MATERIAL T0 FORMS.

APPLICATION IILBD JAN. 2, 1914.

M w H m N M l 9 w m N n m 2 d B I. m 4 D 9 0 m 1% a a 2 am 2 Au P s o a Q 4 4 m w {av 2 Q 4 I 7' l 0 4 2 I w /MW /@'0 m Flg 8 l lnvenTor E. Brown M A tty's.

a e. s

chusetts,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS E. BROWN, OI ROXBURY, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOK TO FARMING-TON MANUFACTURING 00., OF ROXBUEY, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

MACHINE FOR AFFIXING Specification of Letters Patent.

COVERING MATERIAL TO FORMS.

Patented Nov. 17, 1914.

Application filed January 2, 1914. Serial No. 810,062.

1 '0 all whom it may concern:

-Be it known that I, LOUIS E. BROWN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Roxbury, county of Essex, State of Massahave invented an Improvement in Machines for Ailixing Covering Material to Forms, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawing, is a specification, like characters on the drawing representing like parts.

The invention relates to machines for affixing covering material such as leather, textile material and materials of a similar character to metal shells, or other forms.

The invention has for an object to provide an improved machine of this character which will automatically shape the covering material to fit smoothly and snugly over the metal shell or other form, fold the edges in over the edges of the form and secure the some thereto.

Another object is to provide means whereby the covering material will be held under tension while being drawn to the desired shape, the tensioning means being then automatically released.

ln accordance with my invention I provide a machine having cooperating dies between which the form and covering material are pressed together and an auxiliary tensioning device which serves to hold the cover under tension while it is being shaped to the form, the tensioning device being automatically released to permit the edges of the cover to be folded inwardly over the edge of the form and secured thereto. I prefer to use covering material to which a fusible cement such as rubber has been previously applied and for the purpose-of softening this cement provide means for heating one of the dies.

The nature and objects of the invention will more fully appear from the following specification and accompanying drawings and the novel features will be particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings in which for the purpose of illustration I have showna machine for affixing covering material to the covers of eye-glass cases constructed in accordance with my invention; Fi re 1 is is top plan view of the machine; Fig. 2 is a side view of the same; Fig. 3 is a view partly in section taken through the center of the dies; Fig. 4: is a detail view of one of the cams for operating the Wipers; Fig. 5 is a detail View of the tension releasin Fig. 6 is an inverted plan view 0 the ten sion frame and upper die; Fig. 7 is a central sectional view, the line on which the section is taken being indicated at 7-7, Fig. 8 and Fig. 3; Fig. 8 is a. plan View of the lower die; Fig. 9 is a View partly in section taken on the line 9-9, Fig. 3, and Fig. 10 is a sectional detail taken on the line 10-10, Fig. 9.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the machine illustrated comprises a supporting frame, upper and lower dies, means for dedevice;

pressing the upper die, and an automatically operated tensioning device. The supportlng frame is indicated at 1 and consists of a base 2 to receive the lower die and an upright portion having vertical ways 3 to receive a movable head 4 to which the up or die is secured. A head plate 5 is secure to the lower end of the head and provides convenient means for the attachment of the upper die and allied parts.

The lower die comprises a bed 6 which is secured to the base of the support, a yieldable die face or work support 7 slidably mounted in a recess in the bed and a cover plate 8 secured to the bed. A frame 9 is secured to the back of the die face to sustain the box portion of the eye-glass case when placed in position in the machine. Positioning stops 10 and 11 are secured to the cover plate of the bed and are shaped to engage the notches between the box and cover portions of the eye-glass case to accurately determine the position of the case in the machine. The die face is pressed yieldably upward by a spring 12 which is operatively connected to the die face by means of a plate 13 and pins 14. The spring may be conveniently mounted on a bolt 15 secured in the base and its tension may be adjusted by means of a nut 16. A stop 17 of the necessary thickness is positioned between the plate and the base inorder to limit the upward movement of the plate 13 and therefore of the die face. The die face is of a shape and size substantially the same as that of the cover of the eye-glass case, the bed and cover plate together form a. member slots in the urging 1t downward. The

: toward the head partiall .or entirely surrounding the die ace an presenting a bendin edge to fold the covering material upwar y around the cover as the cover with the die face is depressed .into the bed.

Wipers 18, I9, 20 and 21 are slidably mounted betweenthe bed and cover plate preferably in ways in the bed their movement being limited by pins or by pins 23 extendingintoslotsin the bed. .Thesewi 'ers are provided for the purpose of fol the edge of. the covering material over the case. Springs 24 are:

'cover of the eye-glass connected to the,wipers in any convenient manner to hold them normally retracted from the die face and. devices are provided for moving the wipers inward at the desired time. The devices shown each comprise a pin 25 secured in the head plate and having a slot 26. in hich a. cam 27 is pivoted. Springs 28 are'provided to normally hold these cams projected from. their slots. Upon downward movement ofthe head, the cams operate to press the wipers inward but upon upward movement of the head plate the .cams swing about their pivots into the pins and are, therefore, inoperative. Each wiper is perforated as indicated at 29 to receive the corresponding cam pin and permit the necessary movement.

- The upper die comprises a main yieldable plunger 30 and an auxiliary plunger 31. The

main plunger is movably connected to the head plate 5 as by means of a screw bolt 32 secured in the plunger and sliding through a hole in the head plate. The head is recessed as indicated at 33 to receive a sprin 34 which presses'upon the headof this It downward movement of the plunger relative to the head plate, however, is limited by the length of the bolt, since the head of the bolt engages the top of the plate. The tension of the spring 34 pressing the head down is consid erably greater than that of the spin 12 pressing the die face up so that as the head descends the die face will yield and move to its lowest position before the plunger yields relative to the head plate. The auxilia plunger is ri 'dl secured to the head plate and surroun s t e main plunger. on three sides wherefore it said yieldable plunger. .A. plate 35 is .secured to the rear edges of the auxiliary plunger and serves to inclose the space above the main plunger and to in its vertical movement.

Hardened steel pins 36 secured in the plunger near its four corners act as stops to accurately determine its limiting position plate. This insures the correct relative positioningof the main and auxiliary plungers when in their lowest 22secured in the; bed and extending into recesses in the wipers secured in the wipers and it against the cover Hbeforethe dies have sufficiently engaged the I may serve as a guide for guide the plunger j position and prevents the ieldable plunger being held too far down w en dirt and soot collect between the plunger and head plate.

The machine illustrated is designed. more particularly to be-used in connection with the machine described in my co-pending application Serial No. 809,802 filed Dec. 31, 1913, which applies the covering material to the box portion of the eye-glass case. When so us the eye-glass cases are brought to this ma hine with the covering material secured to the box portion. In operation, as a convenient method for provlding the necessary slack in the covering material at the hinge the box. is closed, the inner face of. the covering material heated over a gas flame to soften the cement, then folded over and pressed against the cover. This sufliciently afiixes the covering material to the cover so that its position will be correctly determined with relation to the cover. The case is then opened and placed in this machine between the positioning stops 10 and 11 the box lying in the frame 9 and the cover being positioned upon the die face 7 with the edges of the covering material projecting over the cover plate 8 on three sides of the die face or at the front edge and both ends of the eye'glass case cover.

In accordance with my present invention I provide a tensioning device which engages the projecting edges of the covering ma terial to hold the covering material under tension as the dies approach each other, thus shaping the coveri material snugly and evenly over the m al shell, drawing it to the shape necessary without permitting wrinkles to be formed. After the material has been sufiiciently shaped to the outer face of the metal shell the tensioning device is automatically released to permit the edges to be folded overthe edges of the cover.

I have illustrated the tensioning device as consisting of a frame 37 which is yieldably connected to the head plate by means of spring-pressed bolts 38. The bolts are of such a length that the frame will operate slightly in advance of the main plunger engaging the covering material upon the downward movement 0 thehead andclampmg plate 8 of the lower die case andcoverin materialto draw the covmaterial om its position upon the coyer plate. ,The tensionmg frame is pro vided with teeth presenting elongated edges as indicated at 39 in Fig. 6 each tooth lying in the direction which the covering material should take at that point as it is drawn along between the tensioning frame and the cover plate by the operation of the dies. This arrangement of the teeth has the advantage that the rubber or other cementing material applied to the surface of the covrought into operation The automatic device for releasing the frameis most clearly shown in Fig. 5. A cam is pivotall mounted at 4:1 in a recess inithe bed. A re er 142 is provided upon the cam and a spring 43 holds the cam normally in a substantially upright position. A pin d provided at its lower end with a cam surface 45 is secured in the head plate and is arranged to engage the roller 42 on the cam and move the cam about its pivot. The.

11 end of the cam engages a roller 46 on the frame and as the cam is rotated about itspi-vot the frame is raised sufiiciently to release the covering material which has been clamped between the cover plate and the frlame. The main plunger continues its downward movement and as the die face aplowest position the wipers are by their cams to fold the edge of the covering material in over the edge of the cover. The die face and main plunger are stopped in their downward movement and the auxiliary plunger moves into engagement with the inturned edge of the covering material and presses it firmly against the inside of the cover.

'I prefer to provide means for heating the upper die in order that a fusible cement may be used, the cement being previously applied to the coverin material. In the construction shown I ave provided a pipe 47 secured to the head plate by brackets and provided with jets directed toward the plunrs.- The auxiliary plunger is provided with holes 48 and 49 ositioned opposite the jets in order to plermit the heat to reach the main plunger. he pipe may conveniently be connected to a source of gas and a source of air thus rmitting a proper mixture to give-a sufliciently hot flame.

' As a convenient means of operating the vertically movable head, I provide a toggle mechanism comprisingthe links 50 and 51, the operating lever 52 and the links 53 connecting the lever to the frame. The upper link 50 is pivotally connected to a block 54 adjustabl mounted on the frame and the lower lin 51 is connected to the vertically novable head. The links are 'pivoted together and to the operating lever by a bolt 55. The operating lever 15 also pivotally connected to the links 58 by a bolt 56 which links are pivotally connected to the frame as indicated at 57. When the head ele vated posi on the toggle mechanism is broken and the lever is in elevated position.

preaches its Upon downward movement of the lever, the

rear end of the lever is moved inwardly thus straightening the; toggle links and forcing the head I I prefer to provide springs 58 connected to the head and to the frame counterbalance the weight of the head. The adjustment of the block 54 to which the upper link is connected is controlled by a bar-59 adjustably mounted on bolts 60 and 61 secured in the frame, nuts being provided on both sides of the bar "to hold it in adjusted position. By this means the lowermost position of the head and therefore of the plunger constituting the upper die may be accurately adjusted to give the necessary res? sure upon the covering material and form.

The operation of the machine is as follows: The eye-glass case with the covering material thereon and partially attached to the cover is placed upon the lower die being accurately positioned between the stops l0 and 11. The handle of the operating lever is depressed forcing the head downwardly. The tensioning frame engages the edges of the covering material clamping the same against the face plate. The main plunger engages the cover and presses it against the die face thus shaping the covering material smoothly over the cover and since the edges are held by the tensioning frame, the downward movement of the plunger and die causes the material to be stretched smoothly over the cover. After sufiicient movement to properly shape the covering material to the outer face of the cover, the tensioning frame is raised by the operation of the cam 40 thus releasing the edges of the covering material. The main plunger and die continue their downward movement and the Wipers move inwardly just above the edge of the cover and fold the covering material in over the edges of the cover in position to be engaged by the auxiliary plunger as the head continues its downward movement. The final movement of the head presses the inturned edges against the cover and causes them to be firmly cemented thereto.

I have illustrated for the purposes of disclosing my invention a machine for applying the covering material to the covers of eyeglass cases but the principles of my invention are clearly applicable to various other machines for applying covering material to metal shells or to forms of other types. It will also be obvious that various changes in construction and arrangement of the parts may be made without departing from the scope of my invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a machine of the character described, forming dies for shaping and applying covering material to a form, tensioning means to engage the edge of the covering material and hold it under tension during a part of the operation of the dies and means automatically and positively to raise-the tensioning means from engagement With the covering material during further operation of the dies.

2. In a "machine of the character de scribed, forming dies for shaping and applying covering material to a form, means for causing relative movement between said dies. a tensioning frame carried with one of said dies and yieldable means pressing said frame against the other die upon said relative movement to thereby clamp the edge of the covering material and hold said covering material .under tension.

3. In a machine of the character described, forming dies for shaping and applying covering material. to a form, means for causing relative movement between said (lies. a tensioning frame carried. with one of said dies. yieldable means pressing said frame against the other die upon said relative movement to thereby clamp the edge of the covering material and hold said covering material under tension and means to release the tensioning frame While the dies are still coiiperating.

In a machine for applying covering material to a form, a support, a die mounted on the support and comprising a yieldable die face and a member partially surrounding said die face, a movable head mounted in the support, a plunger carried by said head and arranged to press a form and covering material against said yieldable die face to shape the material to the form. a spring-pressed tensioning frame carried by the head and arranged to clamp the edges of the covering material against the sur rounding member to hold the material under tension during a portion of the movement of the head and vieldable die face and means to automatically release said frame after a predetermined movement of said head and die face.

5. In a machine for applying covering material to a form, a support, a die mounted on the support and comprising a yieldable die face and a member partially surrounding said die face, a movable head mounted in the support. a plunger carried by said head and arranged to press a form and cov ering material against said yieldable die face to shape the material to the form, av tensioning frame carried by the head and means to cause said frame to engage the edges of the covering material and clamp it against the surrounding member to hold the material under tension' While being shaped over the form by the die and plunger.

6. In a machine for applying covering material to a form, asupport, a die mounted on the support and comprising a yieldable die face and a member partially surrounding' said die face, a movable head mounted in the support, a plunger carried by said head and arranged to press a. iorm'andcovering material against said yieldable die face to shape the material to the form, a spring-pressed frame carried b the head and arranged to clamp the e ges of the covering material against the surroundin member While the materialis being shape to the form by the die and plun er, and means to raise the spring-presse frame from the surrounding memberto release the covering material after the material has been drawn to shape over the form. I i 7. In a machine for applying coverin material to a form, a support, a dle moun on the support and comprisin a yieldable die face anda member partia y surrounding said die face, a movable head mounted in the support, a plunger-carried by head and arranged to press a form and covering material against said yieldable die face to shape the material to the form; a spring-pressed frame carried 10 the head and arranged to clamp theed ges of the covering material against the surrounding member during a portion of the movement of the head, a cam mounted in the surrounding member arranged to enga e the frame and raise it from the surrounding member to release the covering material, a cam pin secured in the head to operate the cam thereby raising the frame upon a predetermined movement of the head.

In a machine for applying covering material to the covers of eyelass cases, a support. a die mounted in said support and comprising a yieldable die face and a member partially surrounding said die face and presenting a turning edge to fold the covering material upwardly around the edge of the cover of the eyelass casing during downward movement 0 the case and die face. an upper die comprisin main and auxiliary plungers, the main p unger operating in advance of the auxiliary plunger, a tensioning frame carried with said upper die and operating in advance of the plungers and arrange to clamp the edge of the covering material against the surrounding members. wipers arranged to fold the upturned edge of the covering material inward over the edge of the cover in position to be engaged by the auxiliary plunger of the upper die, means to cause relative movement between the dies and to operate the wipers.

9. In a machine for applying covering material to the covers of eye-glass cases, a support. a die mounted in said support and comprising a yieldable die face and a member partially surrounding said die face and presenting a turning edge to fold the covering material upwardly around the edge ofthe cover of the eye-glass case durin downward movement of the case and die ace, an upper die comprising main and auxiliary plun'gers, the main plun er operating in advance of the auxiliary p unger, a tensioning frame carried with said upper die and operatin in advance of the plungers and arthe dies and to o erate the wipers.

10. In a machine for applyin covering material to a frame, a pair of ies, means for causin relative movement between said dies, one c said dies comprisin a yieldable die face and a member partia y surrounding said die facepresentin a turning edge engaging .the material to old it up around the form as the covering material and frame and means to fold the e are pressed against the yieldable die face, said yieldable die face be n movable bodily with res ect to the surroun ing member, the other die comprising main and auxiliary plunge-rs, the main plunger bein operable in advance of the auxiliary, p unger, a spring-pressed frame arranged to engage the material at its edges andhold it under tension while the material is being shaped to the form, means to release said frame during the downward movement of said die face to free the ed es of the material gas of the material in over the form in advance of the auxiliary plunger.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this s cification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LOUIS E. BROWN.

'Witnesses:

Hm! J. FABRINGTON, Esau Jonmx.

frame carried with said upper die and opare pressed against the yieldable die face,

. eratin in advance of'the plungers and arsaid yieldable die face hem movable bodily range to clamp the edge of the covering .with respect to the surroun ing member, the 25 material against the surrounding member, other die comprising main and auxiliary said frame bein provided with teeth preplungers, the main plunger being operable sentin extende bearing edges, each tooth in advance of the auxiliary, plunger, a

the dies and to 0 .material to a frame, a pair l the form as the cover ng material and frame Co: rectionsin Letters Patent No. 1 ,1 17,1 62.

lying in the direction in which the covering spring-pressed frame arranged to engage 'material will be drawn under said frame, the material at its edges and'hold it under 30 wipers arranged to fold the upturned edge tension while the material is being shaped of the covering material inward over the to the form, means to release said frame edge of the cover in position to'be engaged during the downward movement of said. by the auxiliary plunger of the upper die, die face to free the ed es of the material means to cause relative movement between and means to fold the e ges of the material 35 erate the wipers. 10. In a machine for applyin covering of ies,. means for causing relative movement between said dies, one of said dies comprisin a yieldable in overthe form in advance lunger. In testiniony whereof, I have signed my name to this s cification, in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

of the auxiliary die face and a member partialy surround- LOUIS E. BROWN. ing said die facepresentmg a turning edge 'Witnesses'. engaging .the material to fold it up around HARRY J. FABRINGTON,

Eran Joanna.

It is hereby certified that iniLetters Patent No. 1,117,162, granted November 17,

1914, upon the application oi LouisE. Brown; of R oxbury, Massachusetts, for an im- Material to Forms, errors appear Page 3, lines 7 5-76, for the provement in Machines for Aflixing Covering in'the printed specification requiring correction ass-follows: word fphmger read ptungers; page 5,1ines' l6 and 22, for the word frame read form," and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein thatfthe sam'e may conform to the record ofthe case. in the Patent Ofiice.

Signed and sealed this 8th day of'Decernber, A 191d. 7 damn Q J. T.' NEWTON,

- Acting Commissioner of Patents.

It ishereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,117,162, granted November 17, 1914, upon the application of Louis E. Brown, of Roxbury, Massachusetts, for an improvement in Machines for Affixing Covering Material to Forms, errors appear i n'the printed specification requiring correction as follows: Page 3, lines 7 5-76, for the word plunger rewd ptungera," page 5, lines 16 and 22, for the word frame read form) and that the-said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that thesame may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oflice.

Signed end'sealed this 8th day of'Decernber, A; D. 1914.

J. TQ NEWTON,

Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

